Accessible and adapted accommodation
Not everyone with additional needs self-identifies as disabled but they may still require support or adjustments from Student Accommodation Services.
This support is for anyone included under the definition of disability under the Equality Act (2010), which applies if you have a 'physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities'.
If you have medical or accessible requirements, such as a serious health condition or disability, it may be important to consider what adjustments you need while living in NTU / UPP at NTU accommodation.
Already booked accommodation?
Have you already booked a room but you didn’t declare your disability or long-term health condition? Email accommodation@ntu.ac.uk and let us know.
Talk to us
If you have a condition that could affect your living in halls, we strongly recommend that you declare this during the booking process on the accommodation portal.
When you log into the portal to apply for a room, you will be asked to complete a Disability and Medical Conditions questionnaire. This will allow you to tell us about any medical conditions or disabilities and specific requirements you may have. This will also enable you to upload any evidence that helps to support your requirements.
Depending on your questionnaire responses, you will either have the option to proceed through the portal to select your room or request to have a member of the accommodation team contact you directly to discuss a suitable allocation based on your requirements.
Please note rooms are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
If none of our rooms meet your needs, we may be able to make some adaptations to your accommodation (subject to the feasibility of available rooms as discussed with the hall management team). Contact the Accommodation Team early in the application process and arrange a visit and to discuss any access requirements.
Examples include:
- flashing lights or other alert devices for hearing loss
- en suite wet rooms or rails
- power-assisted doors
- decorative features to help with visual impairment
- adjustable furniture / hoists
- adapted kitchen features
- a mini fridge for medication
NTU's Disability and Inclusion Services also provide advice around accessibility, both in halls and at university.
Additional assessments
If equipment or specific adjustments are needed, we may request an Occupational Therapist’s report to confirm the exact requirements. The accommodation team will inform you if this is necessary.
Costs
We understand that affordability is an important factor when choosing your accommodation and we are committed to supporting students with medical and accessible requirements.
If you have a disability with mobility/physical impairment and require significant adaptations to your room, we may be able to offer you a room at a discounted rate. We review all requests for accommodation and will tell you if you qualify. Please note that this rate will only apply to the room occupied by the student.
In some cases, you may need to apply for items through other means such as the Disabled Student’s Allowance.
Accommodation for personal carers
If you require daily or 24-hour personal care, we can provide a room for your personal carer under the same terms and conditions as other residents. You will need to ensure the cost of the carer’s room can be met. You may be able to access funding through your local authority personal budget if you have one.
Further information about personal care and living support can be found on StudentHub.
Returning students
Students who have declared medical and/or accessible requirements are prioritised for accommodation bookings in all years of study.
If you’ve disclosed any requirements to the accommodation team, you will automatically be invited to re-book accommodation.
Any offers are subject to availability.
Support for students living in NTU / UPP halls
Our Student Accommodation Support Officers are here to help students living in NTU / UPP halls of residence. They can support you in working through issues with your flat or your room, and help if you’re struggling to settle in, feel lonely, are worried about your studies and other areas.
If you require support or are worried about a friend in halls, please email support4halls@ntu.ac.uk.
Considering what accommodation to choose
In this section, we’ve put together considerations you might like to think about when choosing what type of accommodation to book. You may wish to discuss these questions with someone you live with now.
We have also suggested the accommodation that best suits those requirements.
If your condition varies day-to-day, it’s important to consider both what your answer might be on a good day and on a more difficult day. Some of these considerations might inform which hall or room type is most suitable for you, but some might inform adaptations you need to ask for.
- How many students are you comfortable living with?
- Are you comfortable sharing a bathroom with strangers?
- If you lived alone, would you find it easy to socialise with students either on your course or at a society?
- How would it make you feel if your flatmates interrupted your daily routine, maybe by using the cooker when you planned to make dinner?
- How confident are you in travelling to lectures independently?
- How sensitive to noise are you? Do different types of noise impact you differently?
- If there was a fire, would you need someone to help you evacuate?
Recommended accommodation:
All halls may be suitable, which includes:
- Do you have an assistance dog?
- If there was a fire, would you need a visual or vibration alarm to tell you to evacuate?
Recommended accommodation:
All halls may be suitable, which includes:
- Do you rely on remembering where you’ve put something to find it again?
- Would you find it difficult if your flatmates moved things in your kitchen?
- Do you have an assistance dog?
- Do you need lighting adaptations?
- Do you need adaptations to your flat such as high contrast edging and braille signs?
- If there was a fire, would you need help to evacuate?
Recommended accommodation:
- Are you comfortable sharing a bathroom with strangers?
- Can you manage stairs?
- Do you need a different type of bed?
- Do you need bathroom adaptations?
- Do you need a hoist or grab rails?
- Does your kitchen need to be adapted?
- Do you need additional space for medical, rehabilitative or specialist equipment or activities?
- If there was a fire, would you need help to evacuate?
Recommended accommodation:
- Are you comfortable sharing a bathroom with strangers?
- Do you struggle if your sleep is disturbed? Do you sometimes sleep in the day?
- Do you need to sterilise medical equipment regularly?
- If you experience fatigue, how do you find using stairs?
- Do you need a private fridge for medications?
- Do you need additional space for medical, rehabilitative or specialist equipment or activities?
Recommended accommodation:
All halls may be suitable, which includes:
- Are you comfortable sharing a bathroom with strangers?
- If you lived alone, would you find it easy to socialise with students either on your course or at a society? How many students are you comfortable living with?
- How confident are you in travelling to lectures independently?
- If there was a fire, would you need someone to help you evacuate?
Recommended accommodation:
All halls may be suitable, which includes:
Parking
Please note, that students living on campus are normally not allowed to park their cars on campus. The only exceptions to this are students who hold a blue disabled parking badge.
Special parking permits can be arranged for carers and care agencies supporting students with disabilities on campus.
Parking permits can be arranged by contacting the Hall reception.
Care leavers and estranged students
If you’re estranged from your family, Care experienced or estranged, the University can help you to find suitable accommodation for the duration of your course, including vacations if you need them.
Guaranteed accommodation
We will guarantee a place in university-managed accommodation for your first year of study, and that rooms are available for 365 days of the year providing that you firmly accept your offer of a place and apply by the accommodation deadline.
This can be extended to future years however we cannot always promise this will be in the same halls you are offered in your first year.
If you would prefer to live in private-sector accommodation, we can also help you with this.
Our Student Support Advisers (SSAs) can help you arrange accommodation in our halls of residence over the summer. If you'd like this support, complete our short support and wellbeing referral form.
You can choose to return to our halls of residence in your second and final years. Find out more about returning to NTU accommodation.
We are here to help
Students with disabilities are given priority for a place in halls wherever available, if they could not otherwise attend the University.
If you have specific accommodation requirements, please contact our Accommodation team advisers to discuss your requirements. It is important to give as much information as possible so that the adviser can make the most appropriate recommendations for a room best suited to your needs. You will be asked to provide medical evidence to support your application for an adapted room.
Contact the accommodation team